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    • What to know about Oklahoma freshman QB vs. Texas
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    What to know about Oklahoma freshman QB vs. Texas

    Idris Bevan Posted on

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    Oklahoma football quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. faces the biggest game of his young career on Saturday when he leads the Sooners to Dallas against No. 1 Texas.

    Hawkins Jr., expected to be the first true freshman to start for Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry in one of college football’s most prestigious matchups in 119 games, will start against the Longhorns as a heavy underdog for just the second time in his career.

    Hawkins Jr. passed former five-star recruit and starter Jackson Arnold late in the first half of Oklahoma’s game against Tennessee in Week 4. The move came after Arnold committed three turnovers, including two immediately after the Sooners defense committed a vol- had forced turnovers. Hawkins Jr. led two touchdown drives in the loss before being named the starter for OU’s road game against Auburn, a 27-21 comeback win.

    Required reading: Why Michael Hawkins Jr. doesn’t have to be “perfect” for OU football against Texas

    The former four-star recruit certainly faces a difficult task against the undefeated Longhorns, but coach Brent Venables believes in his young quarterback.

    “He will face many more challenges along the way, including this weekend, but I believe in Mike and his demeanor under pressure,” Venables said on the SEC conference call Wednesday. “I think it will bring out the best in him. That doesn’t mean it will be perfect. He doesn’t have to be.”

    “It’s not to be expected, but I think everyone around him will help him.”

    Here’s everything you need to know about Hawkins Jr. ahead of Saturday’s Texas State Fair rivalry game:

    Required reading: SEC football, take note: Nothing you’ve had before beats the Red River rivalry

    Who is Michael Hawkins Jr?

    Hawkins Jr. is a true freshman quarterback for Oklahoma and made his second career start for the Sooners against Texas in the Red River Rivalry. He also figures to be the first true freshman in Sooners history to start the rivalry game.

    Hawkins Jr. took over for Arnold late in the first half of the Sooners’ home loss to the Vols. He got off to a slow start, but finished the game completing 11 of 18 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown and 12 runs for 22 yards. He led two touchdown drives to make the final score more respectable at 25-15.

    Hawkins Jr.’s late play secured him the starting role for Oklahoma’s next game against Auburn. He then won his first career start by completing 10 of 15 passes for 161 yards and adding 14 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown.

    His best attribute is his scrambling ability, which was evident in his 48-yard touchdown run against the Tigers in Week 5.

    The 6-foot-1 dual-threat quarterback was a four-star recruit in the 2024 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. The Frisco Emerson High School (McKinney, Texas) product was also the No. 20 quarterback and the No. 47 recruit in Texas in the class and received offers from Alabama, Arkansas, TCU and others.

    Hawkins Jr. attended Allen High School until his senior season, where former Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray went 43-0. He also trained under Murray’s father, Kevin Murray, a well-known quarterbacks coach in the Dallas area.

    According to his Oklahoma player bio, Hawkins Jr. recorded 4,211 all-purpose yards and 55 touchdowns with just three interceptions as a senior in 2023. According to his MaxPreps biography, he reached those totals with 3,039 passing yards and 41 touchdowns, adding up to 1,172 rushing yards and 14 other scores.

    Hawkins Jr. is the eldest son of former NFL cornerback Michael Hawkins Sr., who played 18 career games for the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns. Hawkins Sr. played one season at Oklahoma before leaving early to play one season in the Arena Football League before being drafted in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft.

    Hawkins Jr.’s little brother, Maliek Hawkins, is a three-star cornerback recruit in the 2025 class who is currently committed to the Sooners.

    Michael Hawkins Jr. Stats

    Here are Hawkins Jr.’s game stats as a true freshman:

    • vs. Temple: 2 of 4 passes for 17 yards; two runs for 10 yards
    • against Tennessee: 11 of 18 passes for 132 yards with a touchdown; 12 runs for 22 yards
    • at Auburn: 10 of 15 passes for 161 yards with a touchdown; 14 runs for 69 yards with one touchdown

    Michael Hawkins Jr. 247 Review

    Here is Hawkins Jr.’s recruiting ranking according to 247Sports’ Composite:

    • Stars: 4
    • National ranking: No. 297
    • Quarterback Rankings: No. 20
    • Texas State Rankings: No. 47
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    Idris Bevan
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